Caitlin Clark Draws Large Crowd at Florida LPGA Pro-Am

Caitlin Clark made a splash at the LPGA Tour's pro-am event on Wednesday, attracting an unexpectedly large crowd as she showcased her golfing skills. The basketball sensation played nine holes alongside Nelly Korda, the world's No. 1 ranked female golfer, who was returning to the course after a two-month hiatus due to a neck injury. Clark also joined Annika Sorenstam, the host of The Annika tournament, for the back nine at Pelican Golf Club.

During a brief interview with Golf Channel, Clark shared her admiration for Korda's game, noting, "I've watched and she's amazing. But golf is hard."

The crowd's enthusiasm was evident, with spectators lining up behind the ropes to watch Clark play, and many stayed afterward for autographs. At the conclusion of the pro-am, Clark signed memorabilia for hundreds of fans.

Clark's involvement in the event was supported by her endorsement deal with Gainbridge, a major sponsor of the LPGA, and she also attended a women's leadership summit hosted by the company. According to Brittany Lincicome, a professional golfer, Clark's presence "can only help grow women's golf."

Nelly Korda, whose family is deeply involved in sports, also praised Clark's influence. Korda, whose sister Jessica played in the Solheim Cup and whose brother Sebastian is ranked No. 23 in men's tennis, mentioned that she had exchanged messages with Clark on Instagram before the event. However, Korda expressed that seeing Clark interact with fans firsthand was a unique experience. "To see the influence that she has on people, bringing people out here, and to see how amazing of an influence she is just for sports, was really cool to see firsthand today," Korda said.

Clark has previously competed in the John Deere Classic pro-am on the PGA Tour and emphasized that she enjoys taking time out to play golf. She even sank a putt from around 3-point range during the pro-am. Korda reflected on Clark's ease in handling the attention, noting, "She's comfortable playing in front of a larger crowd. And she was just really enjoying it. You can tell."

Korda, who last played in the Kroger Queen City Championship on Sept. 22, spoke about dealing with migraines and a neck injury that kept her out of the Asian leg of the LPGA Tour. Despite this, she has already clinched LPGA Player of the Year honors and leads the Race to CME Globe standings. Korda still aims for a victory at the upcoming CME Group Tour Championship, where the winner will receive a $4 million prize.